Pleating of sheet and textile materials

ABSTRACT

A former for simplifying the making of pleated articles, the former being a strip of plastics material creased to form and hold pleats in position.

United States Patent I191 Vipond 1111 3,712,520 1451 Jan. 23, 1973 1 1 PLEATING or SHEET AND TEXTlLE MATERIALS [76] Inventor:

Bishops Walk, Addington, England 2 21 Filed: Oct. 12, 1970 211 Appl. No.1 79,719

30 Foreign Application Priority Data 1 223/28-34; 33/1 1 l, 137 R, 137 L, 190,192, 191,176,179, 174 R; 112/427 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS '2,121,6367"7/1938' CEessJerM; ..l 223/337? Richard Gabriel Vipond, Brackens 2,520,787 8/1950 Sherman ..223/30 2,711,847 6/1955 Kessler ..223/30 3,027,938 4/1962 Lepow ....223/34 X 3,369,303 2/1968 Henry ....223/34 X 3,392,890 7/1968 Cramer ..223/28 3,454,203 7/1969 Nelson ..223/34 1,742,684 l/19 30 Bowmanuh ....223/28 X 3,154,861 11/1964 Rubenstein... ..33/l90 3,475,824 11/1969 Darbo.; ..33/137 L 2,906,441 9/1959 Liebeskindw, ..223/28 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Assistant Examiner-G. V. Larkin Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [57] ABSTRACT A former for simplifying the making of pleated articles, the former being a strip of plastics material creased to form and hold pleats in position.

4 claiiiis, s mini- Figures PATENTEDJAN 23 ms 3, 71 2 .520 SHEET 1 [IF 2 Allorney PATENTED-um 23 I978 SHEET 2 OF 2 Inventor MM B Attorney PLEATING or sin-3m AND TEXTILE MATERIALS pleats for each different window size and the fabric is marked accordingly. A stiffening strip of material, such as the material known as Buckram is introduced into the heading of the fabric and the marked pleats are sewn in place. The work involves much time and the finished article is not always entirely satisfactory, espe cially if the curtainsa're washed or cleaned because this frequently means that the stiffening material becomes soft and saggy.

It is an aim of this invention to provide a former that will simplify the production of pleated articles and will enable a variety of shaped pleats to be easily formed without previous calculations whilst, at the same time, providing a new stiffening material for the pleated heading that would not be appreciably affected by dry cleaning or washing.

Briefly the invention is aformer for defining and positioning folds in sheet or textile material comprising a strip of polypropylene (or some plastics material having similar properties), the said strip being relatively inflexible and having crease lines arranged in transverse straight lines at a pitch so as to correspond to required folds, the said crease lines being soformed as to constitute hinges defining the pleating of the former.

More particularly, the invention provides a former for use in defining and positioning pinch pleats in curtains comprising an elongated strip of thin, relatively stiff thermoplastic sheet material. The strip is provided with a plurality of separate groups of transversely extending, parallel crease lines, each operable to permit the strip to be folded thereabout in either direction. The groups are spaced apart at preselected intervals along the strip and each comprises a plurality of crease lines spaced to present aplurality of separate panels which are interconnected by the crease 'lines. The crease lines defining the outboard panels of each group are spaced a greater distance apart than the crease lines defining the inboard panels of each group whereby the outboard panels are wider than the inboard panels and therefore when the crease lines are bent and the outboard crease lines are brought together to form a pinch pleat, the central, inwardly directed pleat folds will be spaced from the outboard crease lines to avoid interference with the latter as theyare joined together.

The crease lines inthe stripwhich makes the former may be made by approximately halving the thickness so that the strip may bend or fold about'the crease (hingelike) in either direction. A number of creases may be made at regularly spaced distances or the creases may be arranged in a series of regular spaces in the length of the strip.

In addition to the creases adapted to form the pleats, the strip may be provided with additional creases arranged at suitable places to allow for flexibility and for an amount of fullness when used for say curtaining. These additional creases may be adapted to allow for adjustment in the length of the strip. For instance, the

additional creases may allow for a section to be folded back on itself and thus shorten the length of the former and also shorten the distance arranged for between folds.

In a modification; the ends of the creases may be notched so as to act as guides when the strip is positioned within sheet or textile materials.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a short length of the former.

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically an edge view of the strip illustrated in FIG. I when folded at the crease lines in a manner adapted to form pinch pleats in material. 1

FIG. 3 illustrates a short length of the former having a section folded back on itself for the purpose of shortening the length.

FIG 4 represents a section of curtaining incorporating theformer and illustrating examples of pleating.

FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the curtaining with the pinch pleating as will be seen in use., and

The main feature of the invention is illustrated in' one form in FIG. 1 of the drawings which represents a length of strip material which acts as a former. In the example illustrated, the former consists of a length of polypropylene (or a plastics materialhaving similar properties) and being approximately 0.25 mm in thickness and 10 cm in width and for convenience of packing and selling may be rolled into lengths of say meters. Straight parallel creases are made across the strip by the application of heat and pressure so as to reduce the thickness of the strip along the crease to approximately one half of the thickness and, in this way, the strip will bend or fold in either direction about the crease. The polypropylene of this thickness offers a certain amount of rigidity but is relatively inflexible. At the same time it can be rolled lengthwise. The distances between the creases will depend upon the width of the pleating required and the number and spaces between the creases are pre-arranged. In the drawings the reference 1 represents the polypropylene strip. For the purpose of forming pinch pleats parallel creases 2a and 2b are made across the strip I These creases allow the strip 1 to fold or hinge about the crease and for forming a pinch pleat as illustrated in FIG. 2. The number of pinch pleats, the distances between the pleats, the relative size of the folds in the pleats and the number of creases to formmay be pre-arranged and the former is creasedand pre formed before use. In addition to the creases for the pleating, there may also be provided say three creases arranged before these adapted for the pleating andthese are shown in FIG. I bythe reference 3. The object of these creases 3 is to allow for a certain amount of fullness and flexibility in use and also the creases may be. folded over for the purpose of shortening the distance between the pleating or the shortening of the length required for a particular width of curtain, FIG. 3 shows the creases 3 folded over and the overlapping may'bestapled, sewn-of held together'by suitable adhesive.

In'use, a former of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 may be adapted for curtains. A length of the former-istaken and laid on the back of the curtain fabric, the positioning arranged so that the pleats shall be in the desired place. If there are any joins in the curtain fabric it can be arranged that such joins shall fall on the inside of a pleat so that the join will not generally be seen. Adjustments may be made to have the pleating in the desired positions by folding over the creases 3 and thus shorten the former. The former may be cut to the desired length. It is convenient to allow for say 15 cm hem indicated in FIG. 4 by reference 4. The former may be stapled in position and then sewn along the width of the top of the curtain material the stitching indicated at 5 and then the curtain fabric is folded over the former which will now be within the folds at the top of the curtain to be made. The next step is to shape the folds to form the pleats and if a pinch pleating is chosen as illustrated, the fabric is held in position against the former and the two stapled together, making sure that the fabric is tucked deeply into the folds of the former. The pleats may then be sewn into position by making an L stitch by sewing along the bottom and then up the back of the pleats, the stitching running through the fold hinge. This sewing line is indicated by reference 7, the stitching holding together the fabric and the former. The result in pinch pleating in this manner will result in the fabric automatically dropping into folds when hung. The staples used for temporarily holding the pleats in position are removed during the sewing.

As can readily be seen from the drawing, in the preferred form of the invention, the strip of thin, relatively stiff thermoplastic sheet material is provided with a plurality of separate groups of transversely extending, parallel crease lines 2a and 2b which are each operable to permit the strip to be folded thereabout in either direction. As can readily be seen from FIG. I, the groups are spaced apart at preselected intervals along the strip. Each of the groups 10 comprises a plurality of crease lines and 2b spaced to present a plurality of panels 20 and 30 interconnected by the crease lines. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the crease lines which define the outboard panels 20 of each group 10 are spaced a greater distance apart than are the crease lines which define the inboard panels 30 of each group 10. Accordingly, the outboard panels 20 are wider than the inboard panels 30 and therefore when the crease lines are bent and the outboard crease lines 2a are brought together to form a pinch pleat as illustrated in FIG. 2, the central, inwardly directed pleat folds 40 are spaced from'the outboard crease lines 2a to thereby avoid interference with the latter as they are joined together as in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The width of the former may be varied without affecting the invention. Similarly the number of folds forming the pleat may be varied.

during the pressure of the heated bars. The machine may incorporate measuring indicators and means for adjusting the distances between the heated bars and thus the size of the pleats.

The invention IS applicable to curtains, drapes, kilts and skirts and other items requiring pleating.

Standard and known suspension hooks may be used for hanging the curtains. Provision for the prongs of known suspension hooks may be made behind the pinch pleat.

Iclaim:

l. A former for use in defining and positioning pinch pleats in curtains comprising an elongated strip of thin, relatively stiff thermoplastic sheet material,

said strip being provided with a plurality of separate groups of transversely extending, parallel crease lines each operable for permitting the strip to be folded thereabout in either direction,

said groups being spaced apart at preselected intervals along the strip and each comprising a plurality of said crease lines spaced to present a plurality of separate panels interconnected by the crease lines, the crease lines defining the outboard panels of each group being spaced a greater distance apart than the crease lines defining the inboard panels of each group whereby the outboard panels are wider than the inboard panels and therefore when the crease lines are bent and the outboard crease lines are brought together to form a pinch pleat, the central, inwardly directed pleat folds are spaced from said outboard crease lines to avoid interference with the latter as they are joined together.

2. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein notches are provided at the ends of the creases.

3. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein are provided additional sets of crease lines disposed between said groups operable for folding over to shorten the distance between the groups.

4. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein each group comprises seven crease lines presenting six separate panels. 

1. A former for use in defining and positioning pinch pleats in curtains comprising an elongated strip of thin, relatively stiff thermoplastic sheet material, said strip being provided with a plurality of separate groups of transversely extending, parallel crease lines each operable for permitting the strip to be folded thereabout in either direction, said groups being spaced apart at preselected intervals along the strip and each comprising a plurality of said crease lines spaced to present a plurality of separate panels interconnected by the crease lines, the crease lines defining the outboard panels of each group being spaced a greater distance apart than the crease lines defining the inboard panels of each group whereby the outboard panels are wider than the inboard panels and therefore when the crease lines are bent and the outboard crease lines are brought together to form a pinch pleat, the central, inwardly directed pleat folds are spaced from said outboard crease lines to avoid interference with the latter as they are joined together.
 2. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein notches are provided at the ends of the creases.
 3. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein are provided additional sets of crease lines disposed between said groups operable for folding over to shorten the distance between the groups.
 4. A former as set forth in claim 1 wherein each group comprises seven crease lines presenting six separate panels. 